Switching terminal and method for making the same

ABSTRACT

A switching terminal ( 1 ) applied to a detecting equipment includes a carrier strip ( 10 ), a movable terminal ( 13 ) and a stationary terminal ( 12 ) respectively extending from a common edge of the carrier strip; Each of the movable terminal and the stationary terminal has a retaining portion ( 122, 132 ), a base section ( 121, 131 ) and a contact section ( 123, 133 ) connecting to the base, The base section  132  of movable terminal defines a cutout ( 1324 ) on an edge thereof adjacent to the stationary terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a switching terminal and a method for making the same, and particularly to a switching terminal applied to a detecting equipment of a card connector.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional card connector includes a detecting means for detecting connecting state between a card and the card connector. U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,426 discloses such a detecting equipment of a card connector including a movable terminal and a stationary terminal separated from each other before a card is inserted therein. During the insertion of the card, the card engages with the movable terminal and pushes it to contact to the stationary terminal.

[0005] However, the detecting equipment including two terminals separated from each other is mounted in a sidewall, and a first contact section of the stationary terminal is overlap with a second contact section of the movable terminal. Therefore the two terminals need to be pressed by two dies respectively and then mount on the end wall, thereby resulting in additional pressing steps and increasing the cost of manufacture.

[0006] Hence, an improved switching terminal and a method for making the same are desired to overcome the disadvantages and problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A main object of this invention is to provide a method for making a switching terminal with decreasing steps.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a switching terminal for saving the materials and decreasing the cost of manufacture.

[0009] In order to achieve the object set forth, a switching terminal in accordance with the present invention comprises a carrier strip, a movable terminal and a stationary terminal respectively extending from the carrier strip. Each of the movable terminal and the stationary terminal has a retaining portion, a base section and a contact section connecting to the base section. The base section of movable terminal defines a cutout on an edge thereof adjacent to the stationary terminal.

[0010] A method of making the switching terminal has following steps:

[0011] (1) pressing the movable terminal and the stationary terminal on the carrier strip;

[0012] (2) inwardly bending the contact section of the movable terminal at the cutout, until the contact section of the movable terminal and that of the stationary terminal overlap.

[0013] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a top view of a switching terminal before performing a subsequent bending operation;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the switching terminal after performing a subsequent bending operation;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the switching terminal; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is a top view of the switching terminal after bending operation, together with some signal terminals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a switching terminal 1 in accordance with the present invention, comprises a carrier strip 10, a movable terminal 13 and a stationary terminal 12 respectively extending from a common edge of the carrier strip 10. The stationary terminal 12 has a first retaining portion 121, a first base section 122 and a first contact section 123 connecting to the first base section 122. One end of the first retaining portion 121 connects to the carrier strip 10, and the other end of the first retaining portion 121 connects with the first base section 122. The first base section 122 is slightly wider than the first retaining portion 121. The first contact section 123 extends perpendicularly from the first base section 122 to the movable terminal 13.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, in the process of manufacture, the carrier strip 10 defines a plurality of signal terminals 11 extending from the edge thereof and paralleling to the stationary terminal 12. In assembly, the stationary terminal 12, the movable terminal 13 and the signal terminals 11 can be received card connector at the same time.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the movable terminal 13 has a second retaining portion 131, a second base section 132 and a second contact section 133 connecting to the second base section 132. One end of the second retaining portion 131 connects to the carrier strip 10, and the other end of the second retaining portion 131 connects with the second base section 132. The second base section 132 is slightly wider than the second retaining portion 131. The second base section 132 comprises a transfiguration portion 1321, a pressing portion 1323 and an angled portion 1322 interconnecting the transfiguration portion 1321 and the pressing portion 1323. The transfiguration portion 1321 defines a semicircular cutout 1324 on an edge thereof adjacent to the stationary terminal 12. The transfiguration portion 1321 is deflected outwardly from the position of the cutout 1324, then it is bended inwardly until the second base section 132 presents linear and parallels to the immobile terminal 12. The pressing portion 1323 presents an arc configuration in a second plane perpendicular to a first plane in which the stationary terminal 12 and the second retaining portion 131 are arranged. The second contact section 133 extends from the pressing portion 1323 and locates in a third plane parallel to the first plane.

[0021] The first contact section 123 overlaps with the second contact section 133 and remains untouched with the second contact section 133 originally until the second contact section 133 is urged to deflect from the original position.

[0022] A method of making the switching terminal 1 has following steps:

[0023] (1) pressing the switching terminal 1 on the carrier strip 10, wherein the second retaining portion 131 is parallel to the stationary terminal 12, and the second base section 132 and the second contact section 133 deflect from the second retaining portion 131 at the position of the semicircular cutout 1324 and extend away from the stationary terminal 12.

[0024] (2) bending the second base section 132 and the second contact section 133 at the cutout 1324 to make the second base section 132 parallel to the stationary terminal 12 and the second contact section 133 overlap with the first contact section 123.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the semicircular cutout 1324 will suit the change during bending the movable terminal 13. With the method of the present invention, only one die is used to pressing once, which decreases the steps in the prior art.

[0026] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A switching terminal comprising: a carrier strip; a first terminal extending from an edge of the carrier strip; and a second terminal extending from the edge of the carrier strip, being substantially parallel to the first terminal and having a cutout defined in an edge thereof adjacent to the first terminal.
 2. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first terminal comprises a first retaining portion connecting with the carrier strip, a first contact section and a first base section connecting the first contact section with the first retaining portion.
 3. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second terminal comprises a second retaining portion connecting with the carrier strip, a second contact section and a second base section connecting the second contact section with the second retaining portion.
 4. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second base section comprises a transfiguration portion, a pressing portion and an angled portion interconnecting the transfiguration portion and the pressing portion.
 5. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cutout is defined in the transfiguration portion.
 6. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transfiguration portion is deflected outwardly from the position of the cutout.
 7. The switching terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of signal terminals connect with the carrier strip and are parallel to the first terminal.
 8. A method of making a switching terminal comprising the steps of: stamping a first terminal and a second terminal on a common edge of a carrier strip, wherein a cutout is defined in an edge of the second terminal adjacent to the first terminal and a free end of the second terminal extends away from the first terminal and is deflected from the position of the cutout; and bending the free end of the second terminal forward the first terminal the free end of to the extent that the second terminal overlaps the first terminal as viewed along a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the first terminal. 